CVE-2006-6627 in BitDefender
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the packed PE file parsing implementation in BitDefender products before 20060829, including Antivirus, Antivirus Plus, Internet Security, Mail Protection for Enterprises, and Online Scanner; and BitDefender products for Microsoft ISA Server and Exchange 5.5 through 2003; allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted file, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow, aka the "cevakrnl.xmd vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6627 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within BitDefender's packed pe file parsing mechanism that affected multiple product variants released prior to August 29, 2006. This vulnerability specifically targets the cevakrnl.xmd component within BitDefender's security infrastructure, creating a pathway for remote code execution through maliciously crafted files. The flaw manifests during the parsing of packed portable executable files, where the software fails to properly validate integer values during memory allocation calculations, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow condition. This issue impacts a broad range of BitDefender products including their core antivirus solutions, internet security suites, mail protection systems for enterprises, and specialized implementations for microsoft isa server and exchange 5.5 through 2003 platforms, demonstrating the widespread nature of the vulnerability across different security product lines.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper integer overflow handling in the memory allocation routines that process packed pe files. When BitDefender's antivirus engine encounters a specially crafted file, the parsing logic performs arithmetic operations on integer values that exceed the maximum representable value for the data type, causing the integer to wrap around to a much smaller value. This overflow condition results in insufficient memory allocation for the buffer that should contain the parsed file data, subsequently leading to heap corruption when the system attempts to write beyond the allocated memory boundaries. The heap-based buffer overflow creates an exploitable condition where an attacker can control the memory layout and potentially inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the affected security software process, typically running with elevated system permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass significant security implications for enterprise environments relying on BitDefender products for malware protection. Organizations utilizing affected versions of BitDefender software face potential compromise of their entire security infrastructure, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to protected systems. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or user interaction beyond the delivery of a malicious file, making it particularly dangerous for email-based attack vectors and web-based malware distribution. Additionally, the widespread deployment of affected products across different microsoft server platforms increases the potential attack surface and makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise enterprise security environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-6627 focus primarily on immediate product updates and patches released by BitDefender to address the integer overflow condition in their file parsing routines. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to BitDefender versions released after August 29, 2006, which contain corrected implementations of the packed pe file parsing logic. System administrators should also implement network-based protections such as email filtering, web content filtering, and network segmentation to reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with heap corruption and memory allocation errors that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation and memory management can create exploitable conditions in security software, falling under ATT&CK technique T1059.3 for remote code execution through software vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and privilege separation measures to limit the potential impact should exploitation occur despite preventive measures.